Device for the removal of lime deposits in toilet bowls by applying suitable solvents



W. DURING Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,200 DEVICE FOR THE REMOVAL OF LIME DEPOSITS IN TOILET BOWLS BY APPLYING SUITABLE SOLVENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 1965 MR W DN w WW m Attorney Sept. 26, 1967 w. DURING- DEVICE FOR THE REMOVAL OF LIME DEPOSITS IN TOILET BOWLS BY APPLYING SUITABLE SOLVENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1965 Walfer Dijring I N VE N TOR.

Attorney United States Patent 3,343,200 DEVICE FOR THE REMOVAL OF LIME DEPOSITS IN TOILET BOWLS BY APPLYING SUITABLE SOLVENTS Walter Diiring, Wibichstrasse 37, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Feb. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 435,635 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Mar. 5, 1964, 2,809/ 64 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-511) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for the removal of lime deposits in a toilet bowl with inwardly overhanging rim by applying a suitable solvent through a cleaning head comprising an elongated plate enclosed in a porous rubber covering. Solvent reaches the cleaning head from a container through a flexible tube which extends into the cleaning-head handle wherein the liquid flow is controlled by a clamping valve. The plate is so attached that it includes an acute angle with the handle to facilitate cleaning under the rim of the bowl.

This invention relates to a device for the removal of lime deposits in the bowls of flush toilets by applying suitable solvents thereto, the device being equipped with a hollow operating handle for conducting the solvent to an applicator.

The device in accordance with the invention is predominantly designed for the serial decalcifying and cleaning of toilet bowls, mainly in schools, hospitals, administration buildings and other big establishments. Hitherto, for the removal of lime deposits in such sanitary installations, one proceeded in such a way that approximately 3 to d1. of acid was poured into the water in the bowl, and the solvent was allowed to act for about ten minutes. Thereupon the solvent was swung to and fro in the bowl by means of a lavatory brush as bushy as possible, and-as much as possible-also under the rim of the bowl. However, this work had to be repeated often since the acid, greatly diluted by the water in the bowl, lacked the necessary lime-dissolving capacity.

This known procedure, however, is affected by considerable further drawbacks. When pouring inthe acid and swinging it with the brush, acid may be splashed out. Externally the acid container becomes easily dirtied with acid, which damages the floor when the container is placed thereon. In the upper part of the bowl, especially under its inwardly hanging rim, no reliable decalcifying takes place; nevertheless, the consumption of acid is very heavy. The necessary large quantities of acid may attack the drain pipes. In addition, there is considerable wear in the acid-resistant toilet brushes.

To obviate these drawbacks, device according to the invention comprises an applicator terminating in a heel whose flat face diverges rearwardly, at an acute angle, from the tubular operating handle; a distributing head, including a perforated plate provided with a rearwardly projecting extremity, is removably secured to the heel with its plate lying flat against the face thereof. A porous rubber covering envelops the rearward extremity of the distributor plate as well as most of the remainder of its free surface. It is further proposed, according to an other feature of my invention, to have the hollow handle connected with a movable solvent container by means of flexible tubing extending within the handle to an opening in the heel face registering with an aperture of the distribu-tor plate, this aperture being overlain by the porous covering.

3,343,200 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 ICC The accompanying drawing shows by way of example one preferred embodiment of the invention. (In the drawmg:

FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of the device in use during cleaning of a toilet bowl;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show respectively in a front view and in a side view, partly in section, a regulating member in the handle of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the distributing head of the device;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a face view of the distributor plate.

Ihe device illustrated in the drawing comprises an applicator, including an operating handle 1, terminating in a heel 2, and also a portable solvent container 3 With handle 3 of, say, plastic composition, which is connected with the applicator 1, 2 through flexible tubing 4 of synthetic material. As a solvent, by way of example, a mixture of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid or formic acid and water may be used, such as for instance the one available under the trade name Durgol. A substantially U-shaped bent siphon 5 of plastic tubing passes with one leg through the closure cap 6 of container 3 and carries on its other leg a suction ball 7 upon actuation of which, through a riser 8 dipping into the solvent, siphon 5, suction ball 7 and flexible tubing 4 are filled with solvent. The tubing 4 passes through the interior of the tubular handle 1 to the heel 2 thereof where the end of the tubing 4 is received in a nipple 9 rising from the flat face 2" of of the heel. The nipple 9 diverges conically outwardly. Inserted into the end of the flexible tubing is a tapered clamping ring 10 which is pressed into the nipple 9 from without to clamp the tubing 4 in position. The clamping ring 10 permits discharge of the solvent conducted through tubing 4 to a distributor plate 2 which lies flat against face 2" and has a perforation 1-4 aligned with outlet 9. Plate 2" includes an acute angle a with the axis 0 of handle 1 and has a rearwardly projecting extremity 11. Numeral 12 designates a foam-rubber pad which covers most of the free surface of the plate 2' and envelopes its extremity 11. It thus forms an absorptive cleaning layer which is soaked with the solvent issuing at the discharge port 9, 14.

The element 2 is formed as a detachable flexible plate of generally rectangular shape which, in the region of its extremity 11, is provided with an aperture 33 to facilitate access of the cleaning liquid to the part 12' of the foam-rubber pad enveloping that extremity. Aligned with aperture 34 is a slot (PEG. 6-) formed in part by three cutouts 3-5, 36 and 37 which are separated from one another by projecting lugs 38 and 39 to define narrower slits 38' and 39 interconnecting these cutouts. The outermost cutout 37 is similarly extended into a narrower slit 40' which, laterally is bonded by lugs 40.

Spaced apart by the same distances as cutouts 35-87 in plate 2 there project from the face 2" of the heel 2 a row of dovetailed tenons 21, 22, 23 which enable a detachable connection between plate 2' and heel 2.

As is apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, plate 2' is provided with a V-shaped ridge 24 surrounding the heel 2 on three sides, i.e. along the two major sides of the rectangle and also on the rear edge of the heel facing the extremity 11. On its end opposite extremity 11, the plate 2' is bent at an obtuse angle toward the side of handle 1 to form a scraping point 25, free from foam-rubber layer 12.

With the plate 2' fixed to the heel 2, the lugs 38, 39, 40 matingly engage the tenons 2'1, 22, 23 thus holding the plate 2 in position on the heel.

If the plate 2' has to be removed from the heel 2, the extremity -11 is bent down in the direction of arrow A indicated in FIG. 4 until the bight of the ridge 24 clears the face 2" of the heel. In this position the plate 2' can be slidingly displaced relatively to the heel in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4, whereby the lugs 38-40 are disengaged from the tenons 2123. When the lugs have become completely separated fromthe tenons and the latter come to lie in the cutouts 35 37, the plate 2' can be readily removed from the heel. The reverse sequence is followed if the same or a fresh distributor plate has to be attached to the heel, the bight of ridge 24 returning to its illustrated position to lock the heel against sliding along the plate. I The operating handle 1 incorporates a throttle device which is operable by a pushbutton 16. 'It is formed by a wire stirrup 14 whose legs 15, 16, inclined towards each other, have clamping shanks 17, 18 set obliquely to the axis of handle 1. The flexible tubing 4 bracketed by the shanks 17, 18 is normally compresed by the resiliency of the stirrup leg 16 to such an extent that the flow through the squeezed portion of tubing is blocked, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The stirrup leg 15 is rigid and rests with the end of its clamping shank 17 against the inner wall of handle 1, while the stirrup leg 16 carrying the shank 18 is resiliently swingable about the axis of the loops 16'. By pressure applied to the pushbutton 13 seated at the end of the stirrup leg 16, the shank 18 may be thrust back against the action of the spring force of the stirrup leg 16, and thus the clamping of the tubing is partly or entirely nullified. In operation, the pushbutton may be actuated as long and as often as desired with one finger of the hand holding the applicator.

When cleaning a toilet bowl 1 9, the container 3, conveniently portable by its handle 3', may be put on the seat of the bowl 19, as shown in FIG. 1. Upon filling the tubing 4 with solvent actuating the suction ball 7,

by pressing the button 13 feeds solvent to the foam rubber member 12 which thus becomes fully soaked. The party of said member 12 lying on the plate 2 enables easy cleaning of the whole inner wall of the bowl, extremity 11 of the plate also facilitates cleaning of the bowl rabbet 20, under the overhanging rim, as well as convenient treatment of the drain 41.

What I claim is:

1. A device for cleaning a sanitary installation having a bowl with an inwardly overhanging rim, comprising a handle with a tubular stem terminating in a heel with a substantially planar face inclined with reference to the axis of said handle, an elongated and perforated plate lying flat against the plane of said face and extending rearwardly therebeyondwith formation of an extremity including a rearwardly diverging acute angle withrsaid axis for cleaning behind the overhanging rim of the bowl,

conduit means for supplying cleaning fluid to the interior of said handle, said face having an aperture registering with a perforation of said plate for the discharge of said fluid, and a porous pad overlying said perforation and extending over the major part of the free surface of said plate while enveloping said extremity.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said extremity has an opening for the passage of said fluid between portions of said pad overlying opposite sides of said plate.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate also extends beyond said heel at its forward end opposite said extremity, said forward end being bent at an obtuse angle toward the side of said handle and forming a point free from said, pad.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate and said heel are provided with co-operatin-g fastening means for detachably securing said plate to said handle.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said fastening means comprise mating formations for slidably guiding said plate for longitudinal motion between an engaged and a disengaged position.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said formations include a longitudinally extending slot on said plate with at least one constricted portion and at least one tenon on said face receivable in said slot for retention by said constricted portion, said slot being aligned with said perforation and overlain by said pad.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a generally U-shaped ridge positioned to engage said heel on three sides upon retention of said tenon by said constricted portion, said plate being sufficiently flexible to enable the bight of said ridge to move into position behind said heel for locking same against said plate.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes a flexible tube extending through said handle to said aperture, further comprising valve means in said handle for pinching said tube to control the flow of said fluid therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 761,078 5/1904 Jones 1560 X 957,566 5/1910 Knickerbocker 15547 X 1,715,907 6/1929 Dragelin 15567 X 2,011,285 8/1935 Jackson et a1. 251-9 X 2,538,542 1/1951 Tucker 15511 2,564,031 8/1951 Rich 15-567 2,709,542 5/ 1955 El-ler et al 15-553 X CHARLES A. WILLMU'I'I-I, Primary Examiner.

'E. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CLEANING A SANITARY INSTALLATION HAVING A BOWL WITH AN INWARDLY OVERHANGING RIM, COMPRISING A HANDLE WITH A TUBULAR STEM TERMINATING IN A HEEL WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR FACE INCLINED WITH REFERENCE TO THE AXIS OF SAID HANDLE, AN ELONGATED AND PERFORATED PLATE LYING FLAT AGAINST THE PLANE OF SAID FACE AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREBEYOND WITH FORMATION OF AN EXTREMITY INCLUDING A REARWARDLY DIVERGING ACUTE ANGLE WITH SAID AXIS FOR CLEANING BEHIND THE OVERHANGING RIM OF THE BOWL, CONDUIT MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CLEANING FLUID TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID HANDLE, SAID FACE HAVING AN APERTURE REGISTERING WITH A PERFORATION OF SAID PLATE FOR THE DISCHARGE OF SAID FLUID, AND A POROUS PAD OVERLYING SAID PERFORATION AND EXTENDING OVER THE MAJOR PART OF THE FREE SURFACE OF SAID PLATE WHILE ENVELOPING SAID EXTREMITY. 